Welcome to my blog. This blog is all about writing tips for writers and teachers of writing. Twice monthly, I will address one aspect of writing. I will also post tips about no-fee contests and calls for submissions by publishers.
If you would like to know more about me or my books, check out my website at www.nancykellyallen.com

Nancy's Books

Sunday, January 3, 2010

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to set writing goals. Whether you’re a writer or a teacher of writing, or both, goals will keep you focused on the path you choose.

Motivating students to become more involved in the writing process is a goal many teachers have. The key is to plan activities that will capture the interest of students using activities that are fun. In grade three and up, brainstorm with students to create writing projects. If the students are involved in the setting of the goals, they will be more interested in following through.

Here are a few writing goals to consider:

--Make more time for writing. If you're a teacher, make time for more student writing and allow students a platform for presenting their work to others.

--Make an on-going list of all the books you read this year. Reading a variety of books help writers broaden their writing. Read some books you normally would not read. Read a book from a genre you would not normally choose. If you never read biographies, read one you think you’d like. Read biographies of favorite authors to get an inside view of the struggles the author had in getting published.

--Set aside a time every day to write, even if it is only one sentence. Sometimes one sentence is enough to get inspired to write a paragraph or more.

--Set aside time every day to read.

-- Join a critique group. Feedback from other writers will help you improve your writing.

--Of course, reading this blog regularly will help you grow as a writer. In fact, pass the blog along to other writers and teachers of writing.

Make this year a great writing year.

The next two weeks, I’m going to post writing contests that do not require entry fees.

1 comment:

Nancy, Great advice about reading from a genre outside of you normal choices. As a book pubicist I read just about all genres and I have found that experience makes me appreciate the written word all that more.

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About Me

My route to writing children’s books has more twists and turns than a winding mountain road. I worked as a social worker and traveled many a winding road, uphill and down, around Hazard, Kentucky. Later, I became an elementary school teacher, and then a school librarian. After spending days introducing books to children, I spent nights writing books for them. At this point I have written over 30 picture books, one chapter book, and one middle grade novel. I have a master’s degree in Education from Morehead State University and a master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky. Home is still in Kentucky in the log cabin in which I grew up. My husband, Larry, and I share our cabin with two canine writer assistants, Jazi and Roxi.